Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lava cliffs in Rocky Mountain National Park are made of volcanic ash dumped 26 million years ago.
1.
Park Headquarters
A quiet prelude to the stunning vistas to come, Rte. 36 winds lazily westward from
Estes Park to the high ramparts of Rocky Mountain National Park. After pausing at park
headquarters for a brief orientation, visitors enter a domain where more than 60 peaks soar
higher than 12,000 feet into the alpine world above the tree line. Within the park are 147
lakes and over 350 miles of trails, ranging from easy strolls along glacier-fed streams to
strenuous hikes that crest the Continental Divide. Perhaps the best time to visit is Septem-
ber, when the summer throngs have thinned, elk come down to feed in lush meadows, and
the leaves of quaking aspen shimmer like gold coins.
Did you know…
That treeline is determined by temperature? Trees need an average temperature
of about 50°F to grow.
2.
Deer Ridge Junction
As Rte. 36 climbs the flank of Deer Mountain, the view to the rear embraces a line of lofty
summits crowded shoulder to shoulder. The champion is Longs Peak, towering above its
neighbors at 14,259 feet.
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